Food Manager Prep / The ServSafe Manager exam (2026)
The ServSafe Manager exam (2026)
Updated October 2026 · Based on the FDA Food Code 2022 (the edition the exams follow) and the new 2026 edition
The ServSafe Food Protection Manager exam is the most widely known way to become a Certified Food Protection Manager. This page sets out its format, the passing score question, the prices, how online proctoring works, and how it compares with the NRFSP exam.
Exam format
| Questions | 90 multiple-choice: 80 scored and 10 unscored pilot questions you cannot identify |
|---|---|
| Time limit | 2 hours; average completion about 1.5 hours; extra time only with an approved accommodation (request at least 10 business days before) |
| Scoring | Blank answers are wrong, no penalty for guessing, you can skip and return to questions |
| Content basis | Updated with the 2022 FDA Food Code changes; the course and exam bundle reflects the Supplement to the 2022 Food Code |
| Languages | Online: English, Spanish, Chinese (product pages also list French Canadian). Paper: seven versions, including bilingual and large print. Pearson VUE: English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese. |
| Results | Online: usually almost immediately, certificate within 24 hours. Paper: score online 3 to 4 business days after the answer sheet is received |
The passing score: 70% or 75%?
Two official ServSafe documents disagree, and many websites copy one or the other:
- The current ServSafe FAQ and the Online Proctoring FAQ say you need 70% or higher, which is at least 56 of the 80 scored questions.
- The Examinee Handbook dated 2020, still hosted on servsafe.com, says 75 percent or better.
The FAQ is the newer source, so 70% is most likely current. But the difference is only 4 questions (56 vs 60 of 80), and the 10 pilot questions mean you never know exactly where you stand. Train until you score 80% or more on practice exams and the question no longer matters. Confirm the current figure on servsafe.com before exam day.
Is the ServSafe Manager exam hard?
The questions are not tricky in wording, but they are precise. Many depend on one number: 155F or 165F, 2 hours or 4, 41F or 45F. You cannot look anything up, and the 2-hour clock rewards people who know the numbers cold. Candidates who memorize the temperature chart, the exclusion rules and the sanitizer numbers, then practice under time pressure, are well placed.
Prices (ServSafe catalog, October 13, 2026)
| Exam access code (online, with a registered proctor) | $38.99 plus proctor fee |
|---|---|
| Printed voucher | $38.99 plus proctor fee |
| Exam answer sheet (paper) | $42.99 plus proctor fee |
| Online proctored exam (ProctorU) | $99.00 |
| Test center exam (Pearson VUE) | $108.99 |
| Online course and exam (online proctor) | $179.00 |
| Manager book, 9th edition | $54.99 |
Online products, online exams and Pearson VUE products are final and nonrefundable. Prices change and resellers may charge differently.
Proctoring options
- Paper exam with an answer sheet, given by a registered ServSafe proctor.
- Online exam with an access code, also with a registered proctor present.
- Online proctored exam through ProctorU, from home.
- Pearson VUE test center.
Self-proctoring is a security violation, and a proctor watching over Zoom, Skype or Hangouts does not count.
Taking the exam online proctored
- A PC or Mac with a webcam and microphone. No phones, tablets or Chromebooks.
- A private room and one monitor.
- Log in 20 minutes early. The session is cancelled automatically if you are 15 minutes late, and rescheduling with less than 24 hours' notice costs a fee.
- No notes, books, websites, calculators, food or drink.
- ID: a government photo ID (driver's license, passport, military ID) or a valid student ID.
Validity and retakes
The certification is valid for 5 years, but your state, county or employer can require renewal sooner. Retake rules:
- Up to two attempts within 30 days, with no wait between the first and second.
- A third attempt only after waiting at least 60 days from the last one.
- No more than 4 attempts in 12 months.
- Each retake needs a new exam purchase and a registered proctor, and is allowed only if you failed or your certification is expiring.
ServSafe's own example: June 1, June 2, August 2, October 2.
ServSafe Manager vs NRFSP
| ServSafe Manager | NRFSP Food Safety Manager | |
| Questions | 90 (80 scored + 10 pilot) | 80 per the program page; 85 per the ICFSM handbook (likely 80 scored + 5 pilot, unconfirmed) |
| Time | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Passing score | 70% (56 of 80); 2020 handbook says 75% | Scaled score of 75, which is not a percentage |
| Validity | 5 years | Up to 5 years |
| Retakes | 2 in 30 days (no wait), then 60 days, max 4 in 12 months | 2 in 30 days (24 hours apart), then 60 days, max 4 in 12 months |
| Delivery | Paper, online with proctor, ProctorU, Pearson VUE | Pearson VUE, online proctored, paper |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Chinese, more on paper | English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean |
| Price | $38.99 to $108.99 | Not published on the pages we read; $81.99 for a Pearson VUE voucher (unverified) |
Both programs are ANAB-accredited and both now sit under the National Restaurant Association's licensing. The content is the same Food Code, so you study the same material for either. Note that Prometric stopped offering its food manager exam on April 1, 2022.
Ready to test yourself? Start with the free practice test.
Food Manager Prep is independent and not affiliated with the National Restaurant Association, ServSafe or NRFSP. ServSafe is a registered trademark of the National Restaurant Association.